We have plenty of resources to help you research your family history.
Our family history room is on level 1 of Wollongong Library. This is where you'll find our family history resources, including microfilm scanners.
Family history research material held by the library includes:
- Births, deaths and marriage records
- Cemetery records
- Convict records
- Immigration and shipping records
- Land and property records
- Professional records
- Orphan school records
- Military records
- Census records and musters
- Electoral rolls
- Directories
- Naturalisation records
- Colonial Secretary Papers
- Miscellaneous indexes.
Most of the items above can only be used while you're in the library.
Illawarra Family History Group collection
As well as items from the library collection, the family history room has resources that belong to the Illawarra Family History Group (IFHG). Some of these materials can only be used by IFHG members, or by library visitors when an IFHG member is present. See the next section of this page for details of regular times when IFHG volunteers are in the library.
Search the IFHG catalogue here.
Make sure you also check the 'Family history databases' section of this page for resources you can use at any of our library locations.
Volunteers from the Illawarra Family History Group are available on level one of Wollongong Library each Wednesday and Friday morning from 9.30am to 12 noon.
They're happy to share their extensive knowledge, and can help you find resources and use the equipment in the family history room.
You can also ask our library staff for help with your family research at any time during library hours.
Please note: some the below databases can only be accessed using computers within our libraries. Please call your library for more information.
Ancestry library edition
Discover your ancestors with the world's largest family history website. Ancestry can only be accessed using computers within our libraries.
Go to AncestryLibrary.com
Findmypast
A worldwide family history research platform, with birth, marriage and death indexes, census information and other resources from more than 120 countries.
Findmypast can only be accessed using computers within our libraries. No more than two users can log in to this platform at any time.
Go to Findmypast.com.au
British Newspaper Archive
Up to 40 million newspaper pages from the British Library's collection have been digitised in partnership with Findmypast.
You will need to register to use this service. See the free access guide for more information.
Go to the British Newspaper Archive
Below is a list of useful websites if you're researching family history and genealogy.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history
- AIATSIS Family History Unit
- Link-Up NSW
- State Library of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history
Archives
- Australian Society of Archivists
- National Archives of Australia
- Northern Territory Archives Service
- NSW State Archives & Records
- Public Record Office Victoria
- Queensland State Archives
- State Records of South Australia
- State Records Office of Western Australia
- Tasmanian Archives + Heritage
Births, deaths and marriages
- Access Canberra: apply for an ACT birth, death or marriage certificate
- Ancestry Library Edition: for use only on Wollongong City Libraries' computers (at all locations). See Library staff if you need help accessing this database.
- Births, Deaths and Marriages Northern Territory
- Births, Deaths and Marriages Queensland
- Births, Deaths and Marriages South Australia
- Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria
- Findmypast.com.au: for use only on Wollongong City Libraries' computers (at all locations). See Library staff if you need help accessing this database.
- NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
- The Ryerson Index: a free index for death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers
- Western Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Cemetery records
- Australian Cemetery Records
- Australian Cemeteries Index: search by name or cemetery. Includes a record of inscriptions on headstones or plaques.
- South Coast & Illawarra Cemetery Records: includes transcriptions of cemetery records and tombstone inscriptions.
- Wollongong Memorial Gardens deceased search
Convicts
- Convict Transportation Registers 1787-1867. Compiled from British Home Office records, which are available on microfilm at all Australian state libraries.
- Convict Records
- Fellowship of First Fleeters - South Coast Chapter
- Ireland-Australia Transportation Database
Immigration and shipping
- Assisted Immigration to Victoria Ships
- Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters
- National Archives of Australia: Immigration and citizenship
- The Ships List
Research guides
- State Library of NSW - Researching your family history
- State Library of Victoria Family History guides
Other
Illawarra Remembers 1914-1918 is a tribute to local service men and women from the Illawarra during World War I.
This website includes stories, images and helpful links if you're researching the history of people who served in the first world war.
You can also set up a free account and share the stories of your family members.
Visit Illawarra Remembers to find out more.
Top image: Unknown soldiers with family, World War I, image number P25393.